Car-load brace.



B. S. GALLUP.

CAR LOAD BRACE.

nPPucATloN msn AuG.2. |915.

Patented June 20, 1916.

2 SHEETSAHEU l.

THB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM C0.. WASHmnroN. D. C.

B. s. GALLUP. CAR LoAn BRACE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-2. I9.I5`

Patented June 20, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- www@ FFfFE.

BENJAMIN S. GALLUP, OF HAMMOND, LOUISIANA.

CAR-LOAD BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 26, 1916.

-Applicaton filed August 2, 1915. Serial No. 43,278.

To all whom t may concern LUr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammond, in the parish of Tangipahoa and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Load Braces, of which the following is a specification'.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in car load braces, and particularly pertains to a device for retaining stacked containers such as fruit crates, boxes and the like, in position during transportation. A

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a device of the character above mentioned which will aord fragile commodities efficient protection against breakage, gr other damage, due to relative shifting of the containers resulting primarily7 from compression thereof while the same are being transported.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which will automatically compensate for any slack in the load incident. to the jarring and shaking thereof while in transit.

A further object is to provide a device of this character, which is so constructed and arranged that it may' be adjusted to any desired position in the car against the containers packed therein, and securely fastened to retain the containers in proper position.

i Another object is to provide novel supporting and securing means for the several sections of the device.

A further object is to provide a device of this character, wherein each tier of crates or boXes in the load, is braced independent of the adjacent tiers, thereby affording proper support to each individual tier-unit. Proper bracing of only a portion of the load is thereby avoided and compensation made for any unevenness that may occur in loading or any variance in the size ofthe crates.

With the above and other objects in view my invention consists of the parts, and the construction and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a refrigerator car, showing the device in operative relationv to a load of fruit crates; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a car taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing in front elevation, a plurality of the braces in position for use; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the adjustable brace members, showing in dctail, the spring takeup devices and the floor anchor or hinges, attached respectively to the upper and lower extremities of said brace member; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, throughout the several views, 1 designates suitable rails or tracks mounted within the car adjacent the ceiling thereof, on each of which rails, dogs 2 and 3 are slidably and adjustably mounted. The supporting rails 1 are held suspended adjacent the ceiling by means of supporting brackets 1, secured to thel extremities thereof, said rails being of suf- 'iicient length to extend a substantial distance toward the ends of the car to each side of the center thereof.-

Interposed between the main dog 2 and the take-up or spring dog or lever 3, is a spiral spring 5, said spring being attached to dog 2 at a point immediately beneath the rail 1, and the dog 3 at its lower extremity by means of suitable links 5a, passing through perforations formed in the dogs or levers. The spiral spring 5 is of suficient strength to force dog 3 to maintain a rigid and positive grip upon the rod 1 when said spring is under tension, as is the case when the brace is operatively positioned with reference to theload.

ber or main lever 6.

The lower portion of 'each brace 6 is secured to the floor when the device 1s 1n use by means of a hinge, one member 9 being secured to the outer face of the lower end of the brace, while the opposite member 10 is secured to the floor. Member 10 is preferably formed with a 11 extending downwardly therefrom to facilitate the initial positioning of the brace, said member being likewisel provided with one or more holes 12 through which nails may be driven. The said., member 10 .is curved upward slightly at its outer end in order to facilitate the removal of the device when not in use.

A hook 13 is attached t0 each brace 6. as a means of'suspending the brace, when the same isfree, from rail 1 in a horizontal position adjacent the'car ceiling, this beingV the position in which they are placed when not in Yuse and free Vcargo space is desired.

Similar hooks 14' arev secured to the carceiling directly above each supporting rod about midway the length of they car, said hooks being adapted to engage their corresponding rods and prevent sagging and springing thereof when the braces are hung y thereon. Y Y

' In the operation of my invention, a series of tiers or stacks of containers are loaded and arranged inthe -car in the usual manner as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The tiers vor stacks having been` arranged in rows extending laterally'across, and longitudinally of, the car, and the desired number having been placed in one end thereofthe hooks 13 are disengaged from Yrails 1, and the braces 6 lowered Vand. positioned` iirmlyY against the faces ofthe crates composing the Voutermost tier, each individual brace engaging its corresponding tier. rIhe lower sends lof the braces, as hereinbefore explained, are secured in Vthis position by means of the hingesand fastening means driven through the holes 12 therein. Y

Braces 6, beingsecurely pivoted at their lower extremities, are forced back, one at a time, and secured, each on its individual Asupporting rail and 1against its corresponding tier, by spacing the spring take-up dogs 3A such distances from the main dogs 2 as will be sufcient to place V.springs 5 underV Ytension proportionate to the weight of the load carried; The spring 5, having been placed underV tension through moving dog 3 away from the brace 6,'-will cause the dog to assume a rigid and positive grip upon its supporting rail, 1, due to the' leverage which-the recoil cf the spring exerts upon said dog 3. The dog 3 may when once adjusted be secured by set Vscrew 15. Thus it may readily be seen that any slack occurring in the load incident to sudden movement "or jerking of the car, will be quickly and their horizontal position by means of hooks 13 and rails l,.the same may be lowered and allowed to rest temporarily against the braced load in order to allow the loading of the remainder of the cargo and the bracing thereof as hereinbefore explained.

lVhen it is desired to release the braces from the load, the spring dogs 3 are loosened, thereby relieving the tension on the springs 5, and thus allowing the main dogs '2, to be moved forward until the braces are free. On the other hand the lower ends of the braces may be detached by forcing a pinch-bar or the like under the upturned end of plate 10 and thereby withdrawing the fastening means. v

In action when the load is compressed by jar or impact, brace 6 will follow it up and dog 2 will be drawn to a greater or less extent toward dog 3, thus maintaining brace 6 in contact with the load. Should the load not expand, or in other words, reassuine its normal proportions after impact, brace 6 will securely hold the same; and in case the load should tend to expand, dog 2 will be rocked or drawn forward at its lower end by brace G, thereby causing the dog to cramp or bind upon the trackor rail 1 and consequently prevent outward movement of the brace 6. 4

The number of supporting rods or rails afxed to the ceiling will vary'accoiding to the number of crate tiers, taken crosswise of the car. Six rows or tiers of crates are shown in F ig. 2, this being the usual number in shipping loads of crated produce. Directly above and parallel to each tier is a supporting rod with the accompanying bracing device attached thereto, the same being constructed and applied as hereinbcfore described and explained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising the combination with a car, of a plurality of load bracing members spaced laterally therein and adapted to be swung into and out of a substantially vertical position; tracks nlocated in the upper portion of the car; and means interposed between the tracks and the bracing members for drawing each of the members vintol binding relation with the load.

2. A device of the class described comprising the combination with a car, of a plurality of loadn bracing members spaced laterally therein and adapted to be swung into and out of a substantially vertical position; means for pivotally securing the lower ends of said members to the car loor tracks located in the' upper portion of the car; individual suspension and clutch means connected to the upper extremities of the braces and movably mounted on said tracks; corresponding clutch members adjustably mounted on the tracks and adapted to engage therewith; and elastic tension means connecting the last named clutch members with the corresponding suspension and clutch means and serving through the latter to draw the bracing members against the load.

3. A device of the class described comprising the combination with a car; of a track extending longitudinally thereof; a load bracing element adapted to be swung into and out of a substantially vertical position; means for hinging the lower portion of the same to the floor of the car; and elastic tension and locking means movably mounted on said track and connected to the upper end of said bracing element whereby the same will maintain a constant pressure on the load of articles stacked within the car.

4. In a load binder, the combination of a car; a track or supporting rail located in the upper portion thereof; a load bracing member; means for securing the lower end thereof to the car Hoor; and an adjustable tension mechanism interposed between said track and the upper end of the bracing member and serving to draw said member against the load.

5. In ay load binder, the combination of a car; a track or supporting rail located in the upper portion thereof; a load bracing member; means for securing the lower end thereof to the car floor; a clutch arm adjustably mounted on the rail; a second arm slidably mounted on the rail; a spring interposed between the lower end of the clutch arm and the upper portion of the said second arm; and a suitable connection between the lower end of said second arm and the upper end ofthe load bracing member.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a car; a rail located in the upper portion thereof; a load bracing member; means for securing the lower end of said member to the floor of the car in bracing relation to the load to be braced; and an automatic take-up interposed between the upper end of the bracing member and the rail, adapted as the load compacts under jar or impact, to draw and maintain the bracing member in close and binding relation with the load.

7 In a device of' the class described, the combination of a car; a rail located in the upper portion thereof; a load bracing member; means for securing the lower end of said member to the car floor in bracing relation to the load to be braced; clutching means. connected to the upper extremity of the bracing member and coacting with said rail; a member adjustably mounted on the rail and adapted to engage therewith; and elastic tension means connecting said membei' with the clutching means, and adapted as the load compacts under jar or impact, to draw the clutching means in the direction of the load and through said clutching means to maintain the bracing member in close and binding relation with the load.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BENJAMIN S. GALLUP.

@epics of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of.' Entente, Washington, D. C." 

